Papua New Guinea: University gets injunction to block more student protests

EmbedFeedPapa New Guinea: 4 killed after police open fire at student protestIBTimes UK

The University of Papua New Guinea acquired a court injunction to block further student protests after demonstrations in the capital turned violent on 8 June.

The students tried to march towards the Parliament when police opened fire and clashes broke out between protesters and police. The government said initial reports suggesting four people had died in the clashes were inaccurate. At least 38 people were injured, according to the police.

The demonstrators want Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to resign over allegations of corruption.

Higher Education Minister Malakai Tabar welcomed the injunction. He told ABC News, "The thuggery of these opportunists must end and the violence has to stop. The overwhelming majority of students simply want to go to class, sit their exams and proceed to the next semester."

Student protest leader Noel Anjo told Reuters on 9 June that protests would continue despite the ban. He said, "We're not going to give up. The students are not going to give up until and unless the prime minister resigns or surrenders himself to police and is arrested and charged. This fight will continue."

Director of the think tank Institute of National Affairs in Papua New Guinea Paul Barker told Reuters "He has a strong vested interest in not stepping down because obviously if he steps down, his position to protect himself and deal with the public officers who are involved in investigations and prosecutions is substantially weakened."

He added, "There no doubt will be pressure from various parties, but it's hard to see him readily responding to those pressures."